Tenaya Lake Surprise Proposal in Yosemite
Yosemite Surprise Proposal | Olmsted Point Engagement Session
Yosemite National Park Photographer | Summit and Sur Photography
As a Yosemite photographer, I spend a LOT of time down in the valley photographing epic surprise proposals around Cathedral Beach and Tunnel View as well as up at Taft Point and Glacier Point when the roads are open. It is quintessential Yosemite National Park, and one can’t be blamed for choosing these locations as the backdrop for your special moment. That said, if you are thinking about popping the question to your significant other this summer and want to do so in Yosemite without the crowds, locations around highway 120, also known as Tioga Pass, are a great option. This area of the park, often considered the northern portion, has no shortage of stellar views and while boasting low crowds, all while getting the Yosemite experience.
It’s because of these reasons and my love of the park in general that I have been trying to convince people to propose and elope up there for the last few years. Again, it’s no wonder the popular spots get all the attention: they are fairly easy to get to with huge pay off. The locations along Tioga Pass tend to be a bit of a hike for the huge payoff but in this case, not so much! Tenaya Lake is visible from Highway 120 and with lots of pull outs and parking areas, there’s easy access to its shores for exploration and photos. It makes for a great spot to propose or even to elope (if that is the stage of planning you currently find yourself). Whatever its purpose, it is an incredible location with quite a few gems nearby such as Tuolumne Meadows and Olmsted Point (pictured later in this engagement session). Really, the only downside to spots in this area is that the road closes during the winter through early summer (typically November-June; historical opening and closing dates can be found here). So as long as the warmer months work for you and your partner, this might be the perfect Yosemite surprise proposal spot for you!
This summer, I finally lucked out and had someone choose this gorgeous location! After sending Matthew a huge list of potential locations in Yosemite for his proposal to Wanyee, he fell in love with Tenaya Lake and was excited to pop the question there. As the two were traveling from Singapore and visiting Yosemite for the first time together, they planned on seeing some of the other spots along Tioga Pass that day before arriving at the lake’s edge just before sunset. The plan was to get Wanyee there without suspecting anything and I would just be nearby pretending to take nature photos (always easy in the park to blend in this way); safe to say, we pulled this off perfectly and she was totally surprised!
After getting lots of initial reaction shots of this adorable couple and of course plenty showing the landscape of the gorgeous lake, the sun began to sink behind the trees and the light started to warm as we made our way into golden hour. The reflections on the lake made for incredible creative photo opportunities all while Matthew and Wanyee basked in the happiness of their new status as an engaged couple. We took a few more fun photos in this gorgeous spot before walking back to our cars and driving off to our final location: Olmsted Point.
When we arrived at Olmsted Point for the final portion of Matthew and Wanyee’s engagement session, the sunset colors were showing off in the most gorgeous way! As predicted, we pretty much had the entire area to ourselves, save for a handful of people just sitting and enjoying the view. The cool thing about Olmsted Point is that you get a reverse view of Half Dome since Glacier Point is on the other side of the park; it’s not really a secret spot, but is definitely a LOT less busy than Glacier Point and just as spectacular.
After taking in the view of Half Dome, we walked to another tucked away spot that overlooks Tenaya Lake. We soaked in the beauty of alpenglow as the sun slowly stared to wane before finally breaking out the lanterns for a few blue hour photos. After lots of fun, tons of laughs, and so many photos, we walked back to our cars, said our goodbyes, and I relished in the fact that not only was I able to finally photograph at these epic spots, but I got to do it with an amazing, sweet couple. Congrats M and W!!!!
If you loved Matthew and Wanyee’s surprise proposal at Tenaya Lake and Olmsted Point, reach out today to chat about doing your own proposal, engagement session, or elopement at this gorgeous location. Can’t wait to hear from you!